Interesting items and commentaries about our environment and surroundings

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Green building catching on in RTP

RTI International, one of the early residents of Research Triangle park, has started construction on a 120,000-square-foot office building designed to meet the Earth-friendly standards of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system.

Green construction is becoming popular with area companies and builders as a way to be more environmentally conscious and hold down energy costs. The project features systems that save water and electricity, reduce the need for heating and air conditioning, and a data center that will help heat the building.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK -- RTI International today started on its greenest building yet.

The fast-growing think tank, which has earmarked $100 million for a face lift and expansion at its 180-acre Research Triangle Park campus, broke ground on a 120,000-square-foot office building designed to meet the Earth-friendly standards of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system.

The council established the system in 2000 to promote energy-efficient construction.

Developers earn points by incorporating features such as systems that save water and electricity and reduce the need for heating and air conditioning.

The RTI project, which is being built by Duke Realty, will include dozens of environmentally friendly features such as insulated windows and a data center designed to help heat the building. It is to be complete in about a year.

RTI has about 2,600 employees in 40 countries, including 2,100 in the Triangle. The nonprofit's work includes helping establish democratically elected local governments in Iraq, finding new ways to control malaria and more. Original article...